Elastomeric gel body gasket having a substantially incompressible skeleton, a method of making and using the same

ABSTRACT

Gaskets, including aircraft gaskets, are disclosed, the gaskets having an elastomeric gel body and substantially incompressible skeletons. The bodies may be pliable and deformable and, in one example, may be comprised of a two-part chemically cured polyurethane that sets up as a gel after mixing with the web so that it is fully integral with the web and so that there is substantially no air bubbles or air pockets left in the web. The web may be a regular shaped web and made of nylon.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application that incorporates by reference andclaims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/484,570, filed Sep.12, 2014; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/876,849, filed Sep.12, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Gaskets and gasket tape, including aircraft gaskets and gasket tapehaving elastomeric gel bodies and a substantially incompressibleskeletons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gaskets, including aircraft gaskets, are typically formulated for aspecific set of criteria. While most gaskets have an environmentalsealing function, the nature and extent of the sealing may be differentin different applications. That is to say, gaskets, including aircraftgaskets, tend to be environment and assembly specific. What may be usedas a gasket for interposition between an engine head and an engine blockfor an internal combustion engine would typically not be the same as thegasket for a gas meter, an air conditioner, or the speaker of a soundsystem, for example.

In some cases, it is typically desirable that a gasket be made from amaterial that, to some degree, yields under compression and provides agood environmental seal. A number of Applicant's products are directedto use in the field of aviation, more specifically, for use on aircraftbodies. These include the disclosures and specifications set forth in USPatent Publication Nos. 2004/0070156 and 2004/0041356, and U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,530,577; 6,695,320; and 7,229,516, all of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

Gaskets are typically provided for use under compression for sealingbetween two pieces of an aircraft. These pieces may include a moveableworkpiece, such as an aircraft antenna, and an aircraft fuselage, thecombination having a gasket at least partially therebetween with thegasket under compression between the antenna and the aircraft fuselage.An aircraft fuel access door may also be provided with a gasket undercompression between the fuel access panel or door and a retainerassembly for the fuel access panel adapted to retain the fuel accesspanel against the fuselage of the aircraft. In another embodiment ofApplicant's aircraft gaskets, aircraft floor panels are fastened undercompression against stringers or floor mounting members with a gasket orgasket tape between the floor panels and the stringers. In most of theseuses, compression is provided by suitably dimensioned fasteners, such asbolts and receiving nuts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant has discovered for certain applications that may desirereusability of the gasket and/or torque retention, a novel gasket with,in certain embodiments, a flexible (in two dimensions), butsubstantially incompressible (in thickness), non-knitted skeletal memberfor interposition at or between a top and bottom layer of a body of agenerally tabular gasket shape. In some embodiments, Applicant has foundthat a combination of a novel skeletal member with a tacky gel body mayprovide for excellent compression set resistance and torque retention.

By compression set resistance, Applicant means that the gasket resistssetting under compression, such that when compression is released, thegasket will rebound to approximately (or at least toward) its originalthickness. For torque retention, Applicant refers to applying torque tofasteners between a workpiece and a base or body to which the workpieceattaches, which torque remains substantially unchanged (typically) evenas time passes. This ability to retain settings in a non-metallic gasketclose (about 60-90% of original value after about 20-45 min.) to theinitial torque setting between a workpiece and a body or base with thegasket under compression saves the installer of the workpiece time.

A gasket or gasket tape is provided for interposition between a moveableaircraft workpiece and a stationary platform, the gasket comprising apliable, elastomeric gel body having an upper surface, a lower surface,and a perimeter. A non-metallic, non-fibrous, electricallynon-conductive, non-woven skeletal web is provided having an uppersurface, a lower surface, a perimeter and a multiplicity of strandsmeeting at and integral with a multiplicity of joints, the strands andjoints defining a multiplicity of open pores. The elastomeric gel bodyis typically the same size or thicker than and substantiallyencapsulates the skeletal web, including filling the pores thereof, andis integral therewith. The x and y dimensions of the skeletal web aretypically much greater than the z (thickness) dimension. In oneembodiment, there is only a single layer of skeletal web and gel betweenthe upper and lower surfaces of the elastomeric gel body. The gasket isconfigured for lateral gel flow under compression between the workpieceand base, such compression in the range of about 50-500 psi, whereinsuch compression in some embodiments may cause contact with the skeletalweb in the psi ranges indicated. For the gaskets tested, the pressurefails to cause substantial permanent deformation of the skeletal web.The yield limit was not reached.

The gasket or gasket tape typically has similar perimeters in size andshape to that of the workpiece. The surface of the gel body is tacky andmay have hardness about 40-150 on 37.5 gr. half cone penetrometer. Theskeletal web resists compression and exhibits structural and dimensionalstability following compression of the gel body at the defined psirange. The skeletal web, in one example, is comprised of nylon. Thenon-woven skeletal web is typically about 40-60% open pore area. Thethickness of the elastomer gel body may be between about 0.020 inchesand 0.250 inches and the thickness of the skeletal web may be betweenabout 0.010 inches and 0.125 inches.

The multiplicity of strands in the skeletal web include some strands ina machine direction and other strands in a cross direction, and thestrands in the machine direction may be thicker than the strands in thecross direction. The joints may be thicker than any of the multiplicityof strands. The skeletal web may have a tensile strength of betweenabout 10 MPa and 150 MPa. The joint may be square or rectangular incross section or the joint may be substantially circular in crosssection. The compression of the skeletal web is less than about fivepercent and, in some cases, the compression of the skeletal web is lessthan one percent. In one embodiment, the compression on the web fails tocause the skeletal web to exceed its elastic limit.

An assembly for use with an aircraft is provided, the assemblycomprising an aircraft base, a workpiece for removably engaging thebase; and a gasket or gasket tape for interposition between a moveableaircraft workpiece and a stationary platform. The gasket may comprise apliable, elastomeric gel body having an upper surface, a lower surface,and a perimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous, non-conductive,non-woven skeletal web having an upper surface, a lower surface, aperimeter and a multiplicity of strands meeting at and integral with amultiplicity of joints, the strands and joints defining a multiplicityof open pores. The elastomeric gel body may be the same size or thickerthan and substantially encapsulates the skeletal web, including fillingthe pores thereof, and is integral therewith. The x and y dimensions ofthe gasket are typically much greater than the z (thickness) dimension.In one example, there is only a single layer of skeletal web and gelbetween the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomeric gel body andwherein the gasket is configured for lateral gel flow under compressionbetween the workpiece and base, such compression in the range of about50-500 psi, such compression fails to cause substantial permanentdeformation of the web. The workpiece, in one example, is a fuel accessdoor panel. The workpiece, in another, is an aircraft antenna. Theworkpiece, in another example, is an aircraft floor panel. The body andskeletal web have the same or similar properties as set forth in theforegoing paragraphs. The assemblies may further include a fillet sealat the edges.

A gasket or gasket tape for interposition between a removeable aircraftworkpiece and a stationary platform, the gasket comprising a pliable,elastomeric gel body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and aperimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous, electrically non-conductive,non-woven skeletal web having an upper surface, a lower surface, aperimeter, and a multiplicity of strands meeting at and integral with amultiplicity of joints, the strands and joints defining a multiplicityof open pores. The elastomeric gel body is at least the same size as andsubstantially encapsulates the skeletal web, including filling the poresthereof, and is integral therewith. The x and y dimensions are muchgreater than the z (thickness) dimension; and there may be only a singlelayer of skeletal web and gel between the upper and lower surfaces ofthe elastomeric gel body. The gasket may be configured for lateral gelflow under compression in the range of about 50-500 psi, suchcompression fails to cause substantial compression of the web.

A gasket or gasket tape for interposition between a removeable aircraftworkpiece and a stationary platform, the gasket comprising a pliable,elastomeric polyurethane gel body having an upper surface, a lowersurface, and a perimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous, electricallynon-conductive, non-woven skeletal web having an upper surface, a lowersurface, a perimeter, and a multiplicity of strands meeting at andintegral with a multiplicity of joints. The strands and joints maydefine a multiplicity of open pores. The elastomeric gel body istypically at least the same size as and substantially encapsulates theskeletal web, including filling the pores thereof, and is integraltherewith. The x and y dimensions are usually much greater than the z(thickness) dimension. There may be only a single layer of skeletal weband gel between the upper and lower surfaces of the elastomeric gelbody. The gasket is configured for lateral gel flow under compression inthe range of about 50-500 psi, such compression fails to cause theskeletal web to exceed its elastic limit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a gasket with some features ofApplicant's disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an embodiment of Applicant's gasketwith a skin engaged thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gasket tape or tape with some featuresof Applicant's disclosure.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are perspective views of various webconfigurations for use with Applicant's gasket or tape.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are various views of an aircraft assembly for whichApplicant's gasket may be used.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of a aircraft floor panel assemblythat may use Applicant's gasket or gasket tape.

FIG. 6 is a fuel access panel assembly that may be used with Applicant'sgasket or gasket tape.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are top/bottom plan views of three differentpossible gasket configurations for the embodiments of Applicant'sgaskets disclosed herein.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views as a full contact base and ahollowed out base for an aircraft antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The various gaskets and tape of the instant disclosure may be used fornumerous applications on an aircraft and, in some embodiments, arailroad car, a ship or other waterborne vessels. The aircraft usesinclude, but are not limited to: fuel access door gaskets, aircraftfloor panel gaskets, and aircraft antenna gaskets.

This specification relates to a gasket 10 or a gasket tape 26, bothcomprising a body 12 and a web skeleton 14 as seen in FIGS. 1, 1A, 2,3A, 3B, and 3C. Body 12 is typically sheet-like, typically x and y»z,and web skeleton 14 is typically bendable along its x, y axes,substantially incompressible along a Z axis, non-fibrous,non-conductive, and non-woven. Body 12 may have a tacky top surface 16and a spaced apart, tacky bottom surface 18. Gasket 10 may include outerperimeter or walls 20 and inner perimeter or walls 22 defining agenerally sheet-like composite, which may include fastener holes 24. Inone embodiment, skin 30 may be interposed on one or both sides of thebody, which skin 30 may be intended to be part of the gasket, that is tosay, is intended to be under compression between a platform and aworkpiece. A release film 28 may be provided for adherence to the top 16and/or bottom 18 surfaces, which release film prevents the tackysurfaces from inadvertently adhering to objects prior to removal.Release film 28 is intended for removal prior to use between a workpieceand a platform, that is to say, for interposing the gasket betweenmating surfaces.

Web Skeleton

Applicant's web skeleton 14 may be non-woven (non-knitted),non-electrically conductive, non-fibrous, and substantiallyincompressible in the typical PSI and torque ranges set forth herein.Applicant provides for a gasket with excellent sealing characteristicsand compression set resistance and torque retention properties, whichmay be substantially resistant to plastic deformation and resultingcompression set. In particular embodiments, Applicant provides a webskeleton with multiple open pores defined by monofilament strands 34joined at integral joints 36. In certain embodiments, Applicant'sskeletal carrier is a web skeleton with voids or open pore space in therange of about 20 to 80% of preferably about 40-60% of the web area (topview) and is flexible, but non-crushable in the PSI and torque rangesset forth herein, and, in many embodiments, substantiallynon-stretchable in the x, y plane. In some embodiments, the gasket ortape edges may comprise open voids.

Applicant's carrier or web skeleton 14 may be comprised of multiplelinear strands 34, which join at joints 36. The joints and strands maydefine at non-edge portions of gasket 10 enclosed pores 38, which may besquare, rectangular, diamond shaped or other suitable shape. Strands 34may be in cross-section round, rectangular, square or any other suitableshape (see FIGS. 3A-3C). Strands 34 may be thinner, in some embodiments,at non-joint regions, such as midpoint between the joints (see FIG. 3D).

Strands may be non-metallic and made by an extrusion process, such asthat used by Conwed Plastics (www.conwedplastics.com), which discloses aknown method of manufacturing non-knitted plastic netting, which resultsin a non-knitted netting, and which may use different resins including,in one embodiment, an aliphatic polyamide (for example, nylon), andformulations with varying properties as a raw material. In certainembodiments, Conwed extruded netting is used, which in some embodimentsis manufactured through a single step continuous extrusion process thatyields a plastic material with integral joints. This is a meltprocessing of thermoplastics into netting. An extruder melts andpressurizes plastic pellets and forces them through a tooling and a dieto create a netting profile. After the plastic moves through the die andis cooled, the plastic hardens into a predetermined shape. These may besquare, diamond. and flat netting. Among the methods of manufacturingthe webbing are any of the methods of manufacturing set forth in Conwed,U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,479, incorporated herein by reference. Extrudedwebbing, such as Conwed extruded webbing, may be oriented afterextrusion to provide a machine direction and a cross (transverse)direction to the strands of the netting.

Mesh size is the distance of the center of one strand to the center ofthe next strand in that direction. Hole size is the distance from thestrand's inner edge to the next strand's inner edge in that direction.Both measurements are typically reported in inches, millimeters,centimeters, and may be specified for both machine and cross(transverse) directions. Strand count is the number of strands observedin a given length in that direction, and is typically reported in“strands per inch.” In one embodiment of Applicant's gasket or gaskettape, the web skeleton has a strand count of about 16 per 1″ in both MDand CD.

Netting thickness can also be referred to as height, the thickness maybe provided in some embodiments with joints that are thicker than thestrands and, in other embodiments, where joints are about the samethickness as the strands. An integral joint means that strands wherethey meet at the joint are not separate or separable, and are typicallynot identifiable as individual strands at the joint. This is incontra-distinction to a woven fabric or knitted skeletal member, such assome of those disclosed in the Applicant's publications and patents asincorporated herein by reference.

At about 200 psi or in the typical PSI range set forth herein, theelastic limit (or at least the yield point) of the plastic or nylonthat, in certain embodiments, comprises the composition of the webskeleton in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the net is notachieved. These ranges are provided for the web skeleton in the gasket.Those compression ranges are as follows. In one embodiment, thecompression range is between about 150-300 psi and, in anotherembodiment, about 50-500 psi and, in another embodiment, up to about 800psi. At these ranges, torque values for fasteners x,y may be betweenabout 10 in. lbs. about 100 in. lbs (depending on area, and number andsize of fasteners) on, for example, aircraft antenna gaskets.

A re-torque (on slightly curved fixtures) test was performed and theresults for the identified gaskets specifications are as follows:

Thickness (inches) Breakaway Entire Gasket Undercut Torque Time TorqueAntenna Polyurethane Carrier (Skeletal) (inches) Washers (in lbs)(hours) (in lbs) GPS AVDEC Woven 0.045 (.013) 0 No 35 24 6.5 PLUMfiberglass GPS AVDEC Conwed non- 0.035 (.028) 0 No 35 24 23 PLUM wovenNylon GPS AVDEC Conwed non- 0.045 (.028) 0 No 35 24 10.5 PLUM wovenNylon Radio Altimeter AVDEC Woven 0.045 (.013) 0 No 35 24 10 PLUMfiberglass Radio Altimeter AVDEC Conwed non- 0.035 (.028) 0 No 35 2424.5 PLUM woven Nylon Radio Altimeter AVDEC Conwed non- 0.045 (.028) 0No 35 24 15.5 PLUM woven Nylon

As can be seen, embodiments that used a non-woven nylon web requiredsignificantly more torque to uncouple the attachment bolts. Thus, thegaskets in these embodiments was applying significant force to the boltsto inhibit their removal. This quality provides a more effective longterm seal versus traditional gaskets.

While not being constrained by theory, it is believed that, in theembodiment shown, the non-woven, integral joint web skeleton whenincorporated into the body is capable of compression in these rangeswithout reaching its yield point (or possibly its elastic limit) andthus undergoing permanent plastic deformation.

Moreover, in the preferred embodiments of the gasket, the web skeletonretains its length and width dimensions without or with little expansionlaterally within the x,y plane of the skeleton while being compressedbetween the mating faces of the workpiece and platform under theindicated PSI ranges. That is to say, in the X and Y axis, the webskeleton is dimensionally stable, while there is typically squeeze outof the material, such as elastomer gel, comprising body 12. In oneembodiment, the maximum thickness of the web skeleton TJ thickness(thickness joint) is in the range of about 15 to 40 mil, and in a mostpreferred embodiment, about 26 to 32 mil. The thickness of the jointsand the thickness of the strands may differ and in one embodimentthickness of the joints may be greater than thickness of the strands TS.Thickness of the strands may differ and, in one direction, such asmachine direction, be thicker than in the cross direction (see FIG. 3A).

Body

In a preferred embodiment, the body is an elastomer, such as anelastomer gel. A suitable elastomer gel may be a two componentpolyurethane or polyurea or have the properties of the polyurethane gelsdisclosed in the AVDEC patent publications incorporated by referenceherein. Gels may have a surface tackiness, have high elongationproperties, low modulus, and debone cleanly from most materials,including aluminum. Gasket 10 and gasket tape 26 may be made accordingto the methods set forth in the AVDEC publications provided, however,that web skeleton 14 may be positioned anywhere in the body, includingon or at the top surface, on or at the bottom surface or anywhere inbetween. As seen with reference to the Figures, the body material isintegral with the web skeleton, so as to work its way through the openpores 38 in the skeleton, and to work its way around the strands andjoints so as to substantially avoid air pockets. In a preferredembodiment, the gel is a polyurethane elastomeric gel, which is mixed intwo parts (polyol and isocynate) for curing after application onto theweb skeleton in place in a manner which sets to substantiallyencapsulate the web skeleton therein. The two parts may be mixedimmediately prior to contact with the flat laying skeleton, as seen inthe AVDEC patents.

While the foregoing has set forth certain details of the gasket, gasketbody, skeleton, shape, physical and chemical properties, the followingwill set forth there specific uses of the gasket or gasket tape in anaircraft environment.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate an aircraft antenna assembly 40. Aircraft antennaassembly 40 may comprise an aircraft antenna 42, such as those affixedto the surface of the fuselage of an aircraft and connected to theelectronics of the aircraft for transmission and receipt ofelectromagnetic signals to and from a remote source. The aircraftantenna 42 of the aircraft antenna assembly typically has a base 42 b(full plate as seen in FIG. 8A or hollowed out as seen in FIG. 8B) withfastener holes 42 a therethrough and may engage, through fasteners orthe like, the fasteners 44 or the like, a fuselage 46 of an aircraft(washers may or may not be used). The base of the antenna may have aflat or slightly curved underside and the portion of the fuselagematches the flatness or curveness of the tabular base, so that thesurfaces are relatively smooth and matching.

A gasket 10, according to the teachings of this application, may beinterposed between the opposed faces of the antenna and the fuselage. Inone embodiment, the fasteners are torqued to a range of about 10 to 70in. lbs., in one embodiment, providing a PSI range of about 50 to 300(preferably about 200 psi). Compression provided to gasket 10 willtypically cause squeeze out and compression of body 12, until the topand bottom surfaces of web skeleton 16 make contact with (or come closeto) the underside of the antenna and the top side of the fuselage. Atthis point, in certain embodiments, web skeleton 14 typically provides amechanical stop to the compression in the PSI ranges set forth. In oneembodiment, the thickness of gasket 10 has a pre-compression thicknessTpc of about 30 to 70 mil (preferably about 45 mil) and a thicknessafter compression Tac of about 30 mil or in the range of 15 to 40 mil.In some embodiments, post compression thickness of the skeleton,measured while still under compression, is at least 90% ofnon-compressed, in others is at least 95% of non-compressed, in othersat least 97%, and still others is at least 99% of the non-compressedthickness. In one embodiment, the pre-compression thickness of the bodyis about 0.003 to 0.013″ greater than the skeleton; in another, about0.008″ or less.

FIG. 5 illustrates a floor panel assembly 50 which, in one embodiment,may comprise a multiplicity of floor panels 52 (one shown), which mayhave a multiplicity of fastener holes 52 a therein. Floor panels 52 areconfigured to removably engage a multiplicity of typically parallel orgrid lined floor panel support stringers 54. Fasteners 56 and fastenerreceiving elements, such as nuts or blind nuts 58, are adapted to holdthe floor panels against the stringers with lengths of gasket tape 26therebetween. Gasket tape 26 may be provided in the floor panel assemblywith or without a smooth, tough skin 30. Skin 30 may be, in oneembodiment, a semi-porous woven fabric 32 (such as fiberglass), to allowseepage of some of the gel body therethrough. In another embodiment,skin 30 is impervious 32 b and may be made of Teflon or PTFE or othersuitable substance. Such an impervious skin will present a substantialbarrier to the passage of moisture therethrough and add mechanicalintegrity to the body. Skin 30 may add about 5 mil to the gasketthickness.

One function of the skeleton is to provide shape and integrity to thebody of the gasket, among other things. Here, it also in someembodiments provides a mechanical stop and compression set resistancewhen the floor panels are engaged with the support stringers in the PSIranges indicated.

Fuel access doors or panels are provided, typically on the exterior ofaircraft. Removal of fuel access door provides access to the fuel tankof the aircraft. Fuel access doors are typically configured to removablereceipt onto the skin or fuselage of an aircraft through the use of aretainer ring and a retainer hold down ring as known in the art.

One particular application of Applicant's novel gasket 10 or gasket tape26 is use in a fuel access door assembly 60, such as that illustrated inFIG. 6. Fuel access door assembly may include fuel access door or panel62, that is adapted to be removably received against the fuselage orskin 64 of an aircraft exterior. Retainer ring 66 is provided withretainer hold down ring 68. A multiplicity of fasteners 70 usually areprovided to hold the fuel access door 60 against a gasket, here,Applicant's novel gasket 10, which in turn lays against the uppersurface or lip of the fuselage or skin 64 as seen in FIG. 6.

In the three embodiments illustrated, gasket 10 typically has apolyurethane gel body with good environmental sealing characteristics,which may flow or deform under the pressure ranges set forth herein.Mating surfaces of the workpiece and base tend to be flat or slightlycurved, but with occasional minor imperfections in the smoothness of thesurface. Use of Applicant's body 12 provides good adherence andenvironmental sealing. Web skeleton 14 may provide a substantialmechanical stop and, under the pressure ranges indicated, providessubstantial incompressibility and/or compression set resistance and thepossibility of reuse of the gasket. In some cases, the body maintainssufficient tackiness so that one or both compressive surfaces may beremoved and web skeleton is seen to have accepted the pressures in thepressure ranges without any substantial compression set. Moreover, thedimensional stability, especially in the x-y plane, maintains itsstructural integrity and does not show substantial compression setdeformation upon removal from between the mating surfaces after days andmonths of use. Compression set deformation may be less than 5% in someembodiments, less than 3% in some embodiments, and less than 1% in someembodiments. Thus, workpieces, such as antennas, floorboards, and fuelaccess doors, may be reattached to a tacky gasket body and re-torqued,retaining good environmental sealing and compression set resistance.

Applicant has observed the appearance, structure, integrity, and stretchof woven and unwoven gaskets, including the Conwed nylon gasket, afterremoval between mating surfaces following a prolonged period ofcompression. The Conwed nylon web under similar circumstances with thesame polyurethane gel body was without visible loss of structuralintegrity or any observable dimensional stretch in the x,y plane. It waslikely less than about 5% and less than about 3% stretch in the x,yplane or in compression (thickness), and in one embodiment, compressionof less than 1% (in thickness) following compression in the range ofabout 50 psi to 500 psi. It was simply not observable to the naked eyethat there was any change in the x,y dimensions nor thickness of thegasket when upon compression the torque or psi ranges were achieved.

Substantial incompressibility means, within the psi range limits ofabout 50 to about 500 psi, that after the psi has been applied to thegasket, a thickness measurement of the web (still under compression)finds that, in one case, there is less than about 5% reduction inthickness and, in a second case, less than about 3% and, in a thirdcase, less than about 1% thickness reduction. In another embodiment,Applicant's gasket may undergo compression, before or up to its elasticlimit, and in another case, between its elastic limit and its yieldlimit.

Nylon and suitable web or net equivalents, including Kevlar, havemechanical, chemical, and physical properties that Applicant hasdiscovered suitable for specific uses, including for a sticky gasket ortape on an aircraft. These properties include: absorbs very littlemoisture, which allows the material to retain a high degree ofdimensional stability; retains excellent impact and non-impact strengthseven at temperatures below freezing; excellent resistance to chemicals,including hydraulic fluids, oils, grease, saltwater; exceptionallystrong resistance to cracking under stress; excellent abrasionresistance; low coefficient of friction; dampens noise and vibration;fatigue resistance and, when formed as a web, flexible, butsubstantially non-compressible. In particular implementations, thematerial may have a hardness range of great then 100 Rockwell.

Among the netting or web configurations that Applicant's webbing maytake are square net; flat net (extruded and oriented square nettingconfiguration with flat joints in uniform thickness); diamond net(extruded netting with diamond shaped kpore configuration); ormulti-layer co-extrusion where different polymers conform differentlayers on the same net configuration. In one embodiment, Applicant's webis comprised of a long chain thermoplastic polymer and, in anotherembodiment, the polymer is a long chain polyamide, in one example,nylon.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specificembodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limitingsense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosedembodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponreference to the description of the invention. It is thereforecontemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications,alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A gasket or gasket tape for interpositionbetween an aircraft workpiece and a stationary base, the workpiece andbase engaging a multiplicity of fasteners capable of applying torque tothe gasket or gasket tape, the gasket comprising: a pliable, elastomericcured polymer body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and aperimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous, non-woven skeletal webhaving an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter and a multiplicityof strands meeting at and integral with a multiplicity of joints, thestrands and joints defining a repeated pattern with a multiplicity ofopen pores; wherein in a pre-compressed condition the cured polymerelastomeric body is the same size or thicker than and substantiallyencapsulates the non-woven skeletal web, including filling the poresthereof, and is integral therewith; and wherein the x and y dimensionsof the non-woven skeletal web are much greater than the z (thickness)dimension; and wherein the gasket is configured for lateral polymer flowwhen said elastomeric body is under compression between the workpieceand base, such compression in the range of about 50-500 psi, whereinunder such compression the gasket is capable of holding about to 60%-90%of an initial torque value after 20-45 minutes.
 2. The gasket or gaskettape of claim 1, wherein the body and skeletal web have similarperimeter shape to that of either the workpiece or the base.
 3. Thegasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the cured polymer body is anon-adhesive, silicon-free tacky polyurethane gel.
 4. The gasket orgasket tape of claim 1, wherein the skeletal web is comprised of plasticand is capable of being molded, extruded or melt processed.
 5. Thegasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the skeletal web is comprisedof nylon.
 6. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 5, wherein the nylon iscapable of being extruded.
 7. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 5,wherein the nylon is capable of being molded.
 8. The gasket or gaskettape of claim 5, wherein the nylon is capable of being melt processed.9. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the non-woven skeletalweb has about 40%-60% open pore area.
 10. The gasket or gasket tape ofclaim 1, wherein the pre-compressed thickness of the cured polymerelastomeric body is between about 0.020 inches and 0.250 inches, and thepre-compressed thickness of the skeletal web is less than thepre-compressed thickness of the cured polymer body and is between about0.010 inches and 0.125 inches.
 11. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1,wherein the multiplicity of strands include some strands in a machinedirection and other strands in a cross direction, and the strands in themachine direction are thicker than the strands in the cross direction.12. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the joints are thickerthan any of the multiplicity of strands.
 13. The gasket or gasket tapeof claim 1, wherein the skeletal web has a tensile strength of betweenabout 10 MPa and 150 MPa.
 14. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1,wherein at least some of the joints are square or rectangular in crosssection.
 15. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein at least someof the joints are substantially circular in cross section.
 16. Thegasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the compression of theskeletal web is less than about five percent in thickness.
 17. Thegasket or gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the compression of theskeletal web is less than about one percent in thickness.
 18. The gasketor gasket tape of claim 1, wherein the compression of the gasket failsto cause the skeletal web to exceed its elastic limit.
 19. The gasket orgasket tape of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the skeletal web exceedsabout 150 Rockwell.
 20. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 1, whereinthe cured polymer body has a hardness between about 40-150 on 37.5 gr.half cone penetrometer.
 21. A gasket or gasket tape for interpositionbetween an aircraft workpiece and a stationary base, the workpiece andbase engaging a multiplicity of fasteners capable of applying torque tothe gasket or gasket tape, the gasket comprising: a pliable,non-adhesive, elastomeric cured polymer body having an upper surface, alower surface, and a perimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous,non-woven skeletal web having an upper surface, a lower surface, aperimeter and a multiplicity of strands meeting at and integral with amultiplicity of joints, the strands and joints defining a repeatedpattern with a multiplicity of open pores; wherein in a pre-compressedcondition the cured polymer elastomeric gel body is the same size orthicker than and substantially encapsulates the non-woven skeletal web,including filling the pores thereof, and is integral therewith; andwherein the x and y dimensions of the non-woven skeletal web are muchgreater than the z (thickness) dimension; wherein the gasket isconfigured for lateral polymer flow when said elastomeric body is undercompression between the workpiece and base, such compression in therange of about 50-500 psi, wherein under such compression the gasket iscapable of holding about to 60%-90% of an initial torque value after the20-45 minutes; wherein the skeletal web is comprised of nylon; andwherein the nylon is capable of being extruded or molded or meltprocessed.
 22. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 21, wherein the jointsare thicker than any of the multiplicity of strands.
 23. The gasket orgasket tape of claim 21, wherein the hardness of the skeletal webexceeds 150 Rockwell.
 24. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 21, whereinthe cured polymer body has a hardness between about 40-150 on 37.5 gr.half cone penetrometer.
 25. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 21,wherein the compression of the gasket fails to cause the skeletal web toexceed its elastic limit.
 26. The gasket or gasket tape of claim 21,wherein the compression of the skeletal web is less than about fivepercent in thickness.
 27. A gasket or gasket tape for interpositionbetween an aircraft workpiece and a stationary base, the workpiece andbase engaging a multiplicity of fasteners capable of applying torque tothe gasket or gasket tape, the gasket comprising: a pliable, elastomericcured polymer body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and aperimeter; and a non-metallic, non-fibrous, non-woven skeletal webhaving an upper surface, a lower surface, a perimeter and a multiplicityof strands meeting at and integral with a multiplicity of joints, thestrands and joints defining a repeated pattern with a multiplicity ofopen pores; wherein in a pre-compressed condition the cured polymerelastomeric body is the same size or thicker than and substantiallyencapsulates the non-woven skeletal web, including filling the poresthereof, and is integral therewith; and wherein the x and y dimensionsof the non-woven skeletal web are much greater than the z (thickness)dimension; and wherein the gasket is configured for lateral polymer flowwhen said elastomeric body is under compression between the workpieceand base, such compression in the range of about 50-500 psi, whereinunder such compression the gasket is capable of holding about to 60%-90%of an initial torque value after 20-45 minutes; wherein the skeletal webis comprised of plastic and is capable of being molded, extruded or meltprocessed; and wherein the compression of the skeletal web is less thanabout five percent in thickness.